Memories of a Penitent Heart

Synopsis: “Memories of a Penitent Heart” is both a good mystery as well as a documentary. Filmmaker Cecilia Aldarondo’s uncle Miguel died 30 years prior from AIDS, and his presence haunts her family like an unspoken specter. Her family claims that on his deathbed, Miguel repented for the sin of homosexuality. As Cecilia digs deeper into her uncle’s life, pouring through home videos and interviewing surviving family members, more and more hidden truths emerge. What secret was Miguel’s father hiding, and who exactly is the mysterious Robert? In the heart of the AIDS crisis, after the passing of their loved ones, families hid what they perceived as shameful. “Memories of the Penitent Heart” examines the impact when those long buried truths are laid bare.